With all 650 seats declared, the Conservatives secured 331 seats — five more than needed for a majority – their first such victory since 1992 in the House of Commons, 24 more than in 2010. Labour have 232, the Lib Dems eight, the SNP 56, Plaid Cymru three, UK Independence Party one, the Greens one and others 19

The new Westminster Parliament – which meets for the first time on May 18 will see a record number of female and ethnic representatives, with 191 women (up from 143) and 42 from an ethnic minority (up from 27).

Rival party leaders — Labour Party’s Ed Miliband, Liberal Democrat’s Nick Clegg and UKIP’s Nigel Farage; all resigned on Friday after election disappointments, leaving their parties to consider who is best placed to lead opposition to the new government.

Cameron, who promised to lead a government for “one nation”, has already spoken to Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon, whose party won 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland.

On Friday, Cameron said he had spoken to both Miliband and Clegg, paying tribute to the latter’s contribution to the coalition government over the past five years.